The September killing of an eastern indigo snake by children
in a small south Georgia town has led state and federal wildlife officials
to step-up education efforts about this federally protected species.

Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources confirmed that it was a dead eastern
indigo snake held by children in a photograph on the front page of the
Alma Times in late September.

"These kids probably did not know what the snake was," said
Pat McIntosh, Special Agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who
investigates federal wildlife crimes. "They likely didn't realize that
it was illegal to kill this threatened species."

The federally protected eastern indigo snake, which used
to range from South Carolina through Florida and west to southeastern
Mississippi, is found today only in south Georgia and much of Florida.
This non-venomous snake has been protected under the Federal Endangered
Species Act since 1978. Under the Act it is illegal to kill, harm or harass
any endangered species, including the eastern indigo snake. The eastern
indigo snake is also protected under Georgia's Endangered Wildlife Act.
According to McIntosh, the kids who killed the snake will not face federal
charges.

"We're not going to prosecute kids, but we are going to
turn this into an educational opportunity," said McIntosh. "We have to
do whatever we can to protect this species, and that means making sure
that this type of thing doesn't happen again."

"If an adult had killed that snake, he or she would be subject
to prosecution under the Federal Endangered Species Act," McIntosh said.
"We want to avoid having to go that route, so making sure people understand
about endangered species is important." The maximum penalty for killing
a species protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act is one year
in jail and a $50,000 fine.

The eastern indigo snake is the longest snake in North America,
with a maximum total length of 8 ½ feet. The eastern indigo is a very
stout snake, with iridescent blue-black coloring and no pattern on the
body, although the chin and throat may have reddish or cream coloration.

The eastern indigo snake is sometimes confused with the
black racer, the most common black snake in south Georgia. However, the
black racer is dull black and is much more slender than an eastern indigo
snake. Neither snake is venomous, and both are protected under Georgia
law. According to John Jensen, State Herpetologist for Georgia, all non-venomous
snakes are protected under state law.

Eastern indigo snakes are most often found in sandy, upland
pine habitats. In the winter, they find shelter in gopher tortoise burrows.
In the summer, they are often found on the edge of ponds or river swamps
near sandhills.

The eastern indigo snake is a top predator whose diet consists
of small mammals, birds, young turtles, frogs, and other snakes, including
rattlesnakes and cottonmouths.

Because eastern indigo snakes are good natured, the commercial
pet trade took a heavy toll on wild populations before federal protection.
Federal and state biologists are working to improve the population status
of the eastern indigo snake in hopes that it will no longer need protection
under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

But two significant threats are keeping populations of the
indigo snake from recovering. The first threat comes from loss of suitable
places to live, or habitat. Most habitat loss results from conversion
of natural longleaf pine areas to silviculture or agriculture areas. The
second threat is from humans killing snakes, due in part to a common misunderstanding
that all snakes are dangerous. "Most species that have become endangered
have done so due primarily to habitat loss. But snakes suffer further
from indiscriminate killing by humans," said Jensen. "There is still the
old school of thought out there that says ‘The only good snake is a dead
snake.'" But according to Jensen, that perception is wrong. "We have to
understand the importance of snakes," he said. "As we've learned more
about these fascinating animals, we've learned what a significant role
snakes play in healthy, natural ecosystems." While many Georgians may
not realize the value of protecting indigo snakes, some appreciate and
enjoy them. " I love the rascal," said Donald Christmas, a south Georgia
landowner, about the eastern indigo snake living on his property. "I've
told the kids what he is and to leave him alone. We see him every now
and then - he's a beautiful animal."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Georgia Department
of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the newly formed Partners in
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, or PARC, plan to increase their educational
efforts in south Georgia to teach children and adults about the eastern
indigo snake and Georgia's other endangered species. `"Many rare snakes
are killed because people don't have the knowledge to know whether they
are venomous or not. We have to educate the public to identify snakes
and to learn the value of snakes," said Jensen, who is also the Southeast
Coordinator for PARC.

`The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal
agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and
wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands
of small wetlands, and other special management areas. In Georgia, the
Service manages more than 470,000 acres of Federal land on 10 national
wildlife refuges, including Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Savannah
National Wildlife Refuge, and Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. It
also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management
offices, and 78 ecological services field stations across the United States.
The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered
Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant
fisheries, and conserves and restores fish and wildlife habitat. It also
oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions
of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish
and wildlife agencies. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
was established in 1972. The DNR Wildlife Resources Division is charged
with managing, protecting and encouraging the wise use of all wildlife,
including game and nongame animals and protected plants. The Wildlife
Resources Division's Nongame Wildlife-Natural Heritage Section is specifically
charged with the conservation and management of Georgia's endangered and
other nongame wildlife and plant species. Through ongoing information
and outreach programs, DNR's Wildlife Resources Division strives to promote
conservation, sportsmanship and safety awareness, while educating the
public about sound resources management and the wise use of Georgia's
wildlife resources.